There is something very exciting about spotting animals in the wild. No, not how Leonardo spotted one in Revenant but something more safer like from afar watch the great wildebeest migration in the Serengeti or save a sea turtle in Sri Lanka. Here's a list of some of the best wildlife experiences one can have around the world. At the rate in which our species is going, very soon many species of birds and animals will be forced to embrace extinction. But while they are still here with us, we might as well pay them a visit from a respectable distance.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Congo
With their numbers barely reaching 1000, mountain gorilla is one of the critically endangered species on earth. Their entire population can only be found in the Virunga Mountains that borders Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and also in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. You have to be lucky to be able to see them in the wild. They have fallen prey to loss of habitat and poaching and their dwindling number is a matter of great concern. To raise awareness about these gentle giants, there are gorilla trekking expeditions in Uganda, Congo and Rwanda. The adult males are called silverbacks due to prominent silver hair on their backs.
Meet The Penguins In Antarctica
It's extremely unlikely that you'll ever run out of reasons to explore the icy continent of Antarctica, but if you still looking for a reason, let penguins be that reason. Penguins are adorable and no one in their right mind would say otherwise. If you have watched Sir David Attenborough's BBC Earth documentary on emperor penguins who mate for life and brave the cold -40 degrees icy storm to protect their young, you have no doubt (at least once) wished to see them up close and personal. You can actually do that and more on one of the many expeditions to Antarctica (Snow Hill Island and Weddel Sea Coast). You will encounter other penguin species as well as whales and seals.
Tiger Trail in India
The incredible India is a land rich in wildlife. When we speak of India, tigers are bound to cross one's mind. And why not To see the royal Bengal tiger in the wild is an unforgettable experience. Their fragile status due to loss of habitat, poaching and human-animal conflict has led to a number of Tiger Reserves dedicated to help these striped beauties and to maintain a healthy number in the wild. Their protection is crucial for the ecosystem and understanding their importance, there are a number of dedicated national parks and wildlife sanctuaries that offer tiger safaris to educated people about these animals. It goes without saying that if we want to see these majestic tigers in the wild then we must do that responsibly too. Tiger tourism in the country has its good side as well the bad side. Good because one can learn so much about the nature, wildlife, and how it effects us humans. And on the other hand, irresponsible travellers paying no heed to the Dos and Donts make it very hard for these important animals. In India you can visit parks like Jim Corbett National Park, Kanha National Park, Ranthambore National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park, Pench Tiger Reserve, Tadoba Tiger Reserve, to name a few.
Save a Sea Turtle
They get trapped in fishing nets, grotesquely twisted in plastic waste that gets dumped into our oceans and seas, decapitated by sea vessels...the list goes goes on and on. The plight of sea turtles is heartbreaking but what if you knew you could be a big help in their conservation Rehabilitating sea turtles is a big and important task and protecting the young even bigger. The journey from shore to the sea can be the most daunting one for the newly hatched turtles. That is, if they ever get to see the light of day after illegal trade, poaching and pollution. Some species of sea turtles may go extinct very soon and knowing this, there have been many organisations that are doing turtle conservation volunteer programmes in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Sri Lanka, and many other countries.
Watch the Great Migration in Tanzania and Kenya
The annual great Serengeti migration of wildebeest in Tanzania is a breathtaking event one should experience at least once. The neighbouring plains of Masai Maara is another great place to witness the annual migration. Wondering why is this a thing The heavy but short duration of rain brings about a change in the landscape the dry stretches of land now overgrown with grass and fresh water. This is the time when most animals make this journey from Masai Maara to the Serengeti where rain falls first. This is an annual event and not only wildebeest move during this time, they lead thousands of zebras and gazelles too. If you plan well around monsoon, you might be lucky enough to see BBC documentary shows come to life
Meet the Pre-historic Rhinoceros
Early this year (2018) in March, the world got the sad news of the death of Sudan, the last male northern white rhino, in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Only two females (his daughter and granddaughter) are now the last hope to save the species from total extinction. Sadly, most species of the pre-historic rhinoceros are now either extinct or are facing near-extinction. This is due to poaching and illegal trade of their horn. It is important to learn about these majestic creatures and what best than to visit them in person Best places to see them in the wild (different species) are in Namibia, Kenya, Swaziland, India, Nepal, and Indonesia. There are less than 67 Javan rhinoceros of Indonesia are left in the whole world the Indian rhinoceros, also known as the greater one-horned rhinoceros are next in line. In India they can be seen in Kaziranga National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Jaldapara National Park, Gorumara National Park, Manas National Park, Dibru Saikhowa National Park and Chitwan National Park in Nepal.
Go on a Polar Expedition to see Polar Bears
They look cuddly but are anything but. Like many other important species, polar bears are important indicators of the declining condition of our planet Earth. They face the imminent danger of extinction but while they are still there, it is very important to go visit them and see for ourselves what are we doing to our planet and its denizens. Kaktovik in Alaska, Hudson Bay and Churchill in Manitoba, Canada, and Svalbard in Norway are the best places to go on a polar expedition and see these beauties in the wild. After they come out of hibernation, they become greatly dependent on the Arctic sea ice which is their primary hunting ground.
